Directory_and_Chronicle_1922 — Page 1485

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NETHERLANDS-INDIA

In the Government manufacturies of Kalianget and Krampon the greater part of this salt is pressed into briquettes of constant weight and dimensions, which are delivered to those who hold the monopoly in some of the Residencies at fixed prices.

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After a trial in Madura, in some Residencies of Java, and in the isle of Lombok the Government in 1898 resolved to take the management of the opium monopoly into its own lands and to sell the drug on the system of a régie" to the population with- .out the intermediation of farmers. The "régie" is in force now in the whole Indian Archipelago. Everywhere the sale of opium, otherwise than by the "régie," is prohibited. In some parts of the colony the use of opium is forbidden to everyone, in other parts it is only allowed to people who have got a license for personal use, elsewhere it is per- mitted without a license to one or more categories of the population and for the rest prohibited to everyone who has no licence. The monopoly of the Government is strongly protected by penalties. The revenue of the opium "régie" was calculated for 1920 at 41,261,964 guilders (net).

After having given the matter a trial at Soekaboemi (since April 1st, 1901) and at several other places in Java, the Government resolved in 1903 to take in hand the management of the pawnshops, with the intention of protecting the native population from the evils they suffered from the old system of farming out those places. This applies also to the other islands of the Indian archipelago (outlying possession), beginning in 1921. Accordingly, in the past year (October 1st), the new arrangement has been introduced in the province Sumatra's West-Coast with 10 pawnshops. At the end of 1919 the number of Government pawnshops was 357. During 1920 the total number of pledges delivered at the 30 existing Government pawnshops was 35,790,377; the aggregate amount of money borrowed being f.136,518,128.85 with a calculated revenue for 1920 of 2,324,940.21 guilders. Since January 1st, 1920, the rent-tariff has been' considerably decreased.

The tin mines of Banka are exclusively worked by Government; the management of the exploitation, the melting of the ore, and the transport of the tin to the godowns being in the lands of Chinese mining corporations (kongsi's) or of private contractors and their labourers, while some of the valleys are worked in "regie." For the most important districts a caloric electric power-plant has been erected. Two private com- panies hold concessions for tin mines, one in Billiton and the other in Singkep; the first (Billiton) pays a duty for the farming of the mines. The total quantity of tin produced in 1920 by the Governinent mines in Banka was

was 221,528 piculs net= 13,681,569.28 kilogrammes, value 28,361,158 guilders.

The monetary system of Netherlands-India consists of gold coins of the value of ten and five guilders, silver coins of two guilders and a half, of one guilder, and of half a guilder (these coins are the same as those in the Netherlands); besides silver coins of f.0.25, and f.010, bearing Malay and Javanese inscriptions; nickel coins of f.005, and copper coins of f.0025 (2) cent), f.001 (one cent), and f.0005 ( cent). Moreover, the Govern- ment issues currency notes of f.2.50, f.1 and f.0.50. The issue of bank-notes is a monopoly of the Java Bank. These bank-notes are of the value of f.1,000, f.500, f.300, f.200, f.100, f.50, f.40, f.30, f.25, f.20, f.10, and f.5, and payable to bearer on demand. The head office of the Java Bank is at Batavia, and there are agencies at Cheribon, Semarang, Soerabaja, Soerakarta, Djogjakarta, Bandoeng, Malang, Padang, Koetaradja, Medan, Bengkalis, Tandjong balai, Tandjongpoera, Palembang, Pontianak, Bandjermasin, Makas- ser and Menado.

ARMY AND NAVY

The Army of Netherlands-India numbers 1,496 officers, 36,109 non-commissioned officers and men--all volunteers; and 9,582 militia. It is separate from and inde- pendent of the Netherlands Army. The Commander-in-Chief and all the Generals are appointed by the Queen. Besides the Army there are different arined troops

viz.:

a.-The Legion of the Native Prince Mangkoe Nagară, consisting of infantry numbering about 1,747 men. In case of war this Legion is at the conmand of the Government.

b. The Barisan, being native infantry of Madoera, about 2,152 men; designed to maintain peace in the island and to participate in campaigns in case of war.

c. The "Schuttery," being national guards residing in some of the larger places, designed to maintain peace and to assist in case of insurrection, danger, or war. These guards number about 800 men, mostly Europeans, and a few natives. The officers get their commissions from the Governor-General.

d.-Volunteer corps.

e.-Police soldiers, numbering 9,000 men.

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